Logging-exhibition apparatus.



No. 654,980 Patented m 3|, I900.

A. r. nowAnn.

LOGGING EXHIBITION APPARATUS.

(Application filed Man 15, 1900.1

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No.654,980. Patented luly 3|, I900.

A. F. HOWARD.

LOGGING EXHIBITION APPARATUS {Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.] I

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No. 654,980. Patented July 31, 1900.?

- A. F. HOWARD.

LOGGING EXHIBITION APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES,

. .ABRAM FRANK HOWA D,

PATENT OFF-res.

or MunIsiNe, MICHIGAN.

LOGGING-EXHIBITION APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,980, dated July 1900. 1

a lication m March 15, 1900. Serial No. 8,697- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM FRANK HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Munising, in the county of Alger and State of Michigan have invented certain new and use-i ful Improvements in Logging-Exhibition Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to logging-exhibition apparatus, and has for its object the production of a connected series of structures by the aid of which expert loggers may perform for the entertainment of an audience certain operations representing more or less accurately the method of bringing logs from a higher to a lower level and collecting and arranging them in rafts for transportation by waterway.

My invention consists of an elevated tank having a delivery-pipe leading to a suitably situated water-reservoir or pumping-station by means of which the tankmay be supplied with water, a downwardly-inclined fiume 0rchute connecting the elevated tank and a second tank or basin at a lower level, and a watergate whereby the water may be confined in the elevated tank or permitted to flow down the fiume into the lower tank when operated by the performers, as more particularly hereinafter described.

Of the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 represents a general view of one form and arrangement of myinvention, seen from apoint at one side and slightly above it. Fig.8 is a front view of the upper tank and its gate with part of the fiume. Fig. 3 is a side view of the upper tank, showing its extension, its gate, and part of the fiume. In this vfigure the near side wall of the tank extension is omitted to disclose the gate and to permit illustration of its normal closed position in contact with the floor of the extension. Fig. 4. represents the cross beam or axis upon which the gate turns; Fig. 5, a side view of one of the twin gateposts which support the beam and gate, show- .ing the longitudinal recess near the top formed to receivethe trunnion's of the cross-beam; and Fig. 6 shows the same post turned one- "fourth way around from the position of the fifthijfigure in order to show the wedge-hole withwhich both posts are provided. Fig. 7 is an outline representation of a portion of the apparatus, showing the fiume curved; and Fig. 8 shows a curved fiume provided with obstacles to be avoided in descending from the upper to the lower tank.

In the drawings, numeral 1 marks the upper tank, usually made of wood. Its walls may, if desired, be boarded up ten feet to hide the men upon the logs floating therein until they appear about to enter and descend the fiume. Any construction may bechosen for this tank. Ordinarily planks with'seams calked and pitched water-tight will answer every purpose. To add to its appearance, I may paint or drape with bunting thebutside of this tank. Tank 1 is supported at any desired height above the ground by scaffolding 2. I About the middle of one Wall of the upper .tank I make an extension of its walls. The sidewalls of this extension are marked 3 and 4. and its floor orb'ottom is designated by numeral 5. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) The floor and walls of this extension meetand are flush with the same parts of fiume 6, which leads downwardly at a proper angle into a lower tank or pond 7 It is my intention to move my apparatus about from place to place wherever profitable performances may be given, and where it is decided to remain for some length of time, as in the vicinity of larger towns and cities, I purpose putting in a crooked fiume longer relatively than the straight fiume shown in the drawings. I shall curve the fiume (see Figs. 7 and 8) both horizontally and vertically to vary the performance and intensify the ac tion. I shall also introduce obstacles in the fiume, such as piles of rocks 6 6, and border the sides with low trees or shrubbery to create the impression that the men on the logs, are shooting a rapid. It will be understood, therefore, that I do not limit myself tolthe use of any particular formof fiume, but nay change its incline, length, and path under differing conditions.

With regard to the lower or ground tank 7 Ice it is usually made somewhat larger than the upper tank, but similar. Circumstances permitting, I shall take advantage of any pond or other body of water and direct the flume into it. In the greater number of instances,

however, it is my practice to build the lower tank sub'stanti'ally'like tank '1. The lower tank may be sunk flush with the ground, as

shown in Fig. 1, or it may be raised above it.

A most economical method is to excavate where practicable, the ground itself forming the bottom of tank ,7, the, sides only being I boarded or concreted.

To fill the upper tank" with water toithei depth desired, I can avail myself of the local water-pressure, which is ordinarily more than adequate, orbymeans of a steam-pump 8 and pipe 9..to tank 7 or otherbody of water,-in connection with pipe 10 to tank 1, loan use the same supply of water over and over again, as WillbO readily understood. (See Fig. 1.)

. Fig. 4' represents the cross-beam 11, which isprovided with a longitudinal slot 12 and end "journals or trunnions 13 and 14. Through slot 12 passes the gate 15, consisting of a long .door like fiat conveniently made by nailing boards together diagonally, as indicated. Thecross-beain. is secured atthe middle of gate-15, whichis approximately balanced therein. a

' ,Figs. 5and 6.show one form of the twin fbQredhole but itis-not considered necessary toduplicate the figures to show those details. After being secured in slot 12.of the crossbeam the gate is placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, journals 13 and 14: engaging the recessesinthe tops of the gate-posts. One endof the gate is brought into contactwith a sill 2Q, andtapering wedges 21 and. 22 (see Figs.- 2jand 3) are driven through the bored holes. in the posts above the journals of the cross-beam. The wedges hold the gate firmly against lthesill, andthe gate itselfis of such widtlras .to closely but movably fit between walls3 and of the upper-tank extension- This construction is quite tight enough to re- 'tainthe water in the upper tank, and it is a very convenient form of gate. It is believed 'to bewithin the scope of my invention, however, tosubstitute for the gate described any otherknownand common form, and I do not limit myself solely to the gate mechanism specified or toany special size or form of tanks. Let it be assumed thatthe walls of the upper tank are boarded upieight or ten feet high and that the tank is'puniped three feet deep with water. It will be understood that menfloating upon logs would be out of sight of a seated or standing audience on a level with the lower tank. Next, let the pins or wedges 21 and 22 be pulled or driven out. The buoyant effect of the water will raise the gate and cross-beam, and a slight push by one of the performers will tilt the gate into a horizontal position,causin g the end (shown uppermost in Fig.2) to fall upon the cord 23,stretched across the inner mouth of the upper-tank extension, as shown in Fig. 1. The gate being open, the men on logs appear riding down the flame, and it is a matter of considerable skill and agility for each to keep his balance and to properly direct the logcarrying him, so as to avoid the obstacles. The sight is both interesting and instructive, as it exemplifies ,very truthfully the manner in which logs are collected and rafted for transportation.

Naturally unavoidable missteps, collisions,

and capsizes in flume and lowertank result in occasional comical antics on the part of the performers, while the chance of serious accident always imminent to the eyes of the average inexperienced observer is practically nothing.- When all the logs and men have left tank 1 or it is desired to raise the waterlevel in that tank, cord 23 is cast off and the end of the gate resting upon 'itis lowered and placed against the sill 20, and the wedges are again inserted by an attendant stationed conveniently for that purpose. Both ends of the gate are thus rendered useful in turn.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a logging-exhibition apparatus, the

combination of an upper tank raised above the ground-level upon suitable supporting structure and adapted to hold water, a downwardly-inclined fiume, a water-gate constructed and arranged to open said upper tank into said flume at its highest point, a

IOO

the ground-level upon suitable supporting structure and adapted to hold water, thesaid upper tank having an extension at one side, a lower tank, a downwardly-inclined fiume connecting the extension of said upper tank with said lower tank, a water-gate located in the extension of said upper tank and adapted to confine water in said upper tank or to permit itsv discharge into said flurne, substantially as described.

. 3. In a logging-exhibition apparatus, the combination of an upper tank, a flume, a gate arranged to open said upper tank into said fiume, a lower tank arranged to receive the contents of said flume, and pumping mechanismadapted to raise Water into said upper tank from said lower tank, substantially as described.

4. In a logging-exhibition apparatus, the

combination of an upper tank raised above the ground-level upon suitable supporting structure and adapted to hold water, a lower tank, a downwardly-inclined curved flume connecting the said upper tank with the said lower tank, a water-gate constructed and arranged to open said upper tank into the said flume at its highest point, substantially as described.

5. In a logging-exhibition apparatus, the

combination of an upper tank raisedabove" the ground-level upon suitable supporting structure and adapted to hold water, a lower tank, a downwardly-inclined fiume connecting the said upper tank with the said lower tank, artificial obstructions placed in said flume and adapted to interfere with the direct passage of logs floating down the flume, a Water-gate constructed and arranged to open the said upper tank into the said flume at its highest scribed.

6. ha logging-exhibition apparatus, the combination of an upper tank having an extension at one side, a sill 2O transversely secured on the floor of said extension, a gate 15, a cross-beam secured to the middle of the point, substantially as de gate, said cross-beam having journals at the ends, gate-posts l6 and 17 fixed to the walls of said upper-tank extension, said gate-posts having recesses in their tops within which the 

